[Seany (OP)]

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! 50%!! That's loads!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

[ukmicky]

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! 50%!! That's loads!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

No cutting down never works over the long term and often leads to the person for some reason to end up a heavier smoker.

[another_someone]

No cutting down never works over the long term and often leads to the person for some reason to end up a heavier smoker.

I cannot comment on smoking, since I have never been a smoker, but personally, I do find the only way to really stop something is total and instantaneous cessation.

That having been said, i have heard of people for whom gradual reduction is the best way, although it still requires a clear timetable, and to be able to stick to that timetable of reduction.  If you simply cut down to 50%, and then lose the inertia to keep cutting down, then I do agree, it has the same effect as yo-yo dieting.

[paul.fr]

No cutting down never works over the long term and often leads to the person for some reason to end up a heavier smoker.

i agree to some extent, Micky. i have tried before and have always gone back to the same level of smoking, although it have never gotten heavier.

I cannot comment on smoking, since I have never been a smoker, but personally, I do find the only way to really stop something is total and instantaneous cessation.

That having been said, i have heard of people for whom gradual reduction is the best way, although it still requires a clear timetable, and to be able to stick to that timetable of reduction.  If you simply cut down to 50%, and then lose the inertia to keep cutting down, then I do agree, it has the same effect as yo-yo dieting.

basically George, i suppose i am a drug addict. where nicotine is the drug, i have no clear timetable to reduce the cigarettes further. cutting down by 50% in less than a week and sticking to it, is for me, an achievement. it's not been easy, and at times i have desperately wanted just one extra cigarette. but, so far so good. will it last? i have no idea, but if i can maintain my present level then i feel sure i can reduce the cigarettes further. i just don't want to do it too quickly as this has failed miserably in the past.

[Carolyn]

YOU CAN DO IT PAUL!!!!!  That's how my mom quit.   She's been smoke free for a year now. 

 Now when you get comfy at 50%, cut that down by another 50%.

[another_someone]

basically George, i suppose i am a drug addict. where nicotine is the drug,

Yes, I do understand that.

i have no clear timetable to reduce the cigarettes further. cutting down by 50% in less than a week and sticking to it, is for me, an achievement. it's not been easy, and at times i have desperately wanted just one extra cigarette. but, so far so good. will it last? i have no idea, but if i can maintain my present level then i feel sure i can reduce the cigarettes further. i just don't want to do it too quickly as this has failed miserably in the past.

As I said, different things work for different people; but you do need to forward plan, otherwise it will not work - even if that means that on 4th August you start cutting back a further 50% (i.e. down to 25% of the original level), and on 4th November you go for complete cessation - but that still allows to to retain a constant inertia.

[Ben6789]

Congrats george.

[DoctorBeaver]

When you fancy a cigarette say to yourself "No, not yet. I'll wait another half an hour". Then, when that half hour is up, try putting it off a while longer. You'll be surprised how much you can cut down like that.

Also, try to cut out the habitual cigarettes - post-somnolence, post-pranial, post-coital etc - and you'll find it easier not to have the others.

Psychologically it's better if you think of yourself as a non-smoker from the day you give up, not as someone trying to give up.

[Hadrian]

you might like to read this    
help on quitting smoking

Top 10 Reasons to Quit Smoking

[another_someone]

Congrats george.

What's this about - I am not cutting down smoking - where do you cut down from zero?

[another_someone]

When you fancy a cigarette say to yourself "No, not yet. I'll wait another half an hour". Then, when that half hour is up, try putting it off a while longer. You'll be surprised how much you can cut down like that.

It known as procrastination - you'd be surprised about how good I can get about procrastinating (just, I have no need to do it for cigarettes).

[Hadrian]

i forgot i had this ........ LOL

[Ben6789]

drat and blast! i congrats the wronged person! *bangs his head on a wall* [:-[]

I'm gonna go crawl under a rock..  [xx(]

[Hadrian]

drat and blast! i congrats the wronged person! *bangs his head on a wall* [:-[]

I'm gonna go crawl under a rock..  [xx(]

??

[Ben6789]

 []

Paul fr. was the one quitting, not another_someone. I got mixed up. what's so hard to understand.  []

[Hadrian]

[]

Paul fr. was the one quitting, not another_someone. I got mixed up. what's so hard to understand.  []

i found it hard to read with all the smoke...........LOL

[Karen W.]

Congratulations.. Hang in there and don't give up!! BIG HUGS!!

[Ben6789]

[]

Paul fr. was the one quitting, not another_someone. I got mixed up. what's so hard to understand.  []

i found it hard to read with all the smoke...........LOL

LOL  [] []

[moonfire]

Also, try cutting a little off the tip at a time...if you end up having one so you can trick your mind into believing you have had a whole cig...congrats handsome!  You are doing gr8!

[kdlynn]

i don't know about over there, but here in the us they sell marlboro seventy two's. they are shorter cigarettes. downright tiny!